EDITORIALS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 866, 5 October 1888, Page 27

EDITORIALS.

Unexpected , It appears that, after all, the self-con-gratulation of the W ellington citizens that at last they had two such prominent citizens and eligible candidates as Mr Kennedy Macdonald and Mr Duthie contesting the city mayoralty was premature. Mr Macdonald has retired from the contest. He finds that as a leaseholder under the Harbour Board he would be ineligible to assume that seat on the Board to which the Mayor of Wellington.is ex officio entitled. Consequently the citizens would lose a vote on the Board, and this he feels to be undesirable; therefore he has announced his decision to retire. We regret very much that such a step should have been necessary, and this notwithstanding that we consider the city will have an excellent Mayor in Mr Duthie, should that gentleman be elected, as now appears most probable. We have been by no means in accord with Mr Macdonald in all his views—indeed, we have in one or two instances been strongly opposed to his policy. But the questions on which we mainly differed from him are no longer at issue, and although even now we do not agree with everything set forth in his address, we hold very strongly that ‘‘men ” are of more importance than “ measures ” at the present juncture. It is of the utmost moment to have really good men in our chief public positions, and Mr Macdonald’s great ability and energy pointed him out as one specially capable of large public usefulness, while we thoroughly believe that it is his honest ambition bo render distinguished service to his city and fellow citizens. We are very sorry that this ambition should be thwarted for the time, but we fully anticipate that other opportunities will arise when his powers will be available for the public benefit.

In saying this much of Mr Macdonald we imply no disparagement of his rival. On the contrary, we have already intimated very plainly our opinion that either gentleman was so eligible a candidate that if both went to the poll the ratepayers would be placed in unusual difficulty through having to choose between two such men. And it is one reason why we especially regret Mr Macdonald’s retirement that the contest which seemed impending between two foemen so worthy in every way of each other’s steel promised a searching, thorough, and exhaustive discussion of municipal matters such as has not taken place for many years, and such as could not fail to be exceedingly beneficial to the city’s interests. It is worthy of consideration whether the cause of Mr Macdonald’s withdrawal from the contest be not one which might not advantageously be removed in respect of future elections. Theoretically no doubt there may seem to be a danger and an impropriety in allowing the Harbour Board’s leaseholders to hold seats on the Board, and to thus be both landlords and tenants. And there are unquestionably some objections to such a dual relationship. But these objections would apply equally to the Corporation, and yet Corporation leaseholders are not debarred from seats in the Council. As it is. the exclusion of leaseholders from.seats on the Board and from civic positions carrying with tlrnm such seats, may again—as in this instance—have the effect of depriving the public- of the services of valuable men. Nor is it easy to see how any harm could result from leaseholders, sitting on the Board, when it is recollected how stringently the leases are hedged round with safeguards and restrictions, and how fully all dealings in connection 'with them are necessarily laid open to the public view. However, so the law stands, and as a consequence Mr Macdonald disappears from the campaign in which lie was to have been bo conspicuous a figure. Mr Duthie’s speech was a characteristically sensible and straightforward one. With most of tho views which he put forward we cordially agree, but his condemnation of Mr Macdonalds loan consolidation proposal was a mere repetition of the stock objection that the consolidation of loans at lower interest could only be effected at the cost of an undue sacrifice of the principal. The soundness of this criticism depends entirely on the nature of Mr Macdonald’s scheme. The desirableness, if practicable, of such a consolidation, nobody will dispute. The point at issue is

whether such a measure be really practicable. We believe it is, but the question is one which can only be determined by professional financiers. As Mr Macdonald has declared his conviction of the feasibleness of the plan, it is for him to make good his contention, and it will be well for him to do so, lest it should be alleged to his disadvantage on some future occasion that the proposal was merely put forth as an electioneering cry. Mr Duthie is, we are glad to see, very strong on the question of city improvements, and advocates theadoption of every practicable plan of rendering Wellington more pleasing and attractive as a place of residence than it is at present. We have urged this point over and over again. - The removal of the cemetery was another step which Mr Duthie very properly supported. Should he be returned it is to be hoped he may be able to initiate more practical steps in the direction of this needful sanitary reform than have yet been taken by the civic authorities.